Ch1 Reliance On Fossil Fuels

Question 1

What is a fossil fuel?

Answer 1

Fuel consisting of organisms preserved in rocks in the earths crust with high carbon and hydrogen content.

Question 2

What is renewable energy?

Answer 2

Energy derived from natural sources that do not use the earths natural resources to harm the environment.

Question 3

How is crude oil and natural gas formed?

Answer 3

• Dead remains of sea organisms
• Remains gather on ocean floor, sediment builds ontop increasing pressure
• over 100s of millions of years pressure and temperature increases till sufficient for crude oil to form. (Gas trapped in same wells)

Question 4

How is coal formed?

Answer 4

• Dead remains of plants falls and accumulates on ground
• overtime pressure increases converting the matter into peat
• over 100s of millions of years a pressure and heat compresses in coal.

Question 5

List 4 uses of fossil fuels in modern day life.

Answer 5

1. Plastics - (Bags, Electronics, Packaging)
2. Pharmaceuticals - (Aspirin, Penicilin)
3. Transport - (Petrol, Diesel)
4. Fibres - (Nylon, Acrylic)

Question 6

List the approximate lifespan of each fossil fuel.

Answer 6

1. Coal - 114
2. Gas - 53
3. Oil - 51

Question 7

Explain how the price of crude oil impacts its lifespan.

Answer 7

High prices would justify new solutions to provide more oil, therefore would increase the lifespan.

Question 8

Explain breifly why global action is required to tackle fossil fuel depletion.

Answer 8

• Every nation is using fossil fuels.
• Excessive fossil fuel usage will impact the whole world.

Question 9

What is meant by the term anthropogenic?

Answer 9

Caused by human activity / human induced

Question 10

List 3 pieces of evidence that climate change is anthropogenic in regards to weather.

Answer 10

1. More volatile weather - (Flooding events, storms, forest fires)
2. Increased hurricane activity
3. Fewer cold days, nights and frost events
4. More hot days, nights and heat wave events

Question 11

List 3 pieces of evidence that climate change is anthropogenic in regards to the sea.

Answer 11

1. Sea temperatures have risen globally
2. Polar ice caps are melting
3. Sea levels are rising (75% thermal expansion and 25% ice caps melting)
4. Ecological changes within the coral reefs

Question 12

Define carbon trading.

Answer 12

A method that aims to reduce carbon emissions by providing incentives for major polluting industries

Question 13

List the 4 advantages of carbon trading.

Answer 13

1. Environmental
2. Control
3. Financial Incentive
4. Flexibility

Question 14

List the 4 disadvatages of carbon trading.

Answer 14

1. Complexity of the market
2. Economy
3. Size of permits
4. Difficulties surrounding the meassuring of emission